An Afternoon with the Camera: Capturing County Durham’s Beauty

Although the day started off with a bit of drizzle, the afternoon brought a burst of sunshine. Unfortunately, that sunshine was accompanied by winds that were just too strong to risk sending the drone up. So, rather than let the day go to waste, I decided to head out with my trusty camera instead.

And what an afternoon it turned out to be! I managed to visit six magnificent locations around County Durham, each offering its own unique charm and beauty. Here’s a little rundown of the spots I captured:

St Brandon’s Church

My first stop was the picturesque St Brandon’s Church. The doors were wide open, welcoming visitors inside. This gave me the perfect opportunity to capture not just the stunning exterior but also the intricate beauty within. There’s something truly special about this place, and I’m thrilled to have captured its essence both inside and out.

Brancepeth Castle

Next up was Brancepeth Castle. Now, as some of you might recall, the folks here had previously requested that we refrain from capturing it with the drone—a request we, of course, respected. However, today I got the chance to snap some ground-level shots. Fingers crossed, these photos will do the castle justice on their own!

Newton Cap Viaduct

Third on the list was the Newton Cap Viaduct, a striking structure that never fails to impress. The light was just right, making the viaduct stand out against the vibrant blue sky.

Newton Cap Bridge

Just a short distance from the viaduct lies the Newton Cap Bridge. This location has always been a favourite of mine. The way the bridge spans the landscape creates a perfect opportunity for some dynamic photography, and today was no exception.

Escomb Saxon Church

After that, I made my way to Escomb Saxon Church. This isn’t the first time I’ve photographed here—some of you might remember the drone footage we captured a while back. But today, with the sun shining and the skies a perfect shade of blue, it was great to return with just the camera in hand.

Witton Castle

Finally, I rounded off the day at Witton Castle. We’ve got some amazing drone shots of this castle already, but it felt good to take a step back and capture it from a different perspective. The castle’s historic charm really shines through in these ground-level photos.

With the weather looking a bit unpredictable for the rest of the week, it’s anyone’s guess when the drone will be back in action. But in the meantime, I’ve had an absolute blast capturing these locations with my camera. Now comes the fun part—editing these shots and bringing out the best in each one.

Stay tuned for the finished photos, and as always, thanks for following along on this photographic journey. Whether by drone or camera, there’s always something new and beautiful to discover out there!